Woohoo! ....... d'oh!
Now I have rather a blessed existence and don't really have a care in the world, however I have to admit my impending tax bill has given me cause for a moment or two’s anxious consideration (in HK they don't automatically take tax from your salary, instead they wait 12 months or so then send you a bill for that year and the next). Having been told they generally hit you for 15% of your salary per year, I was expecting a green envelope asking for about 30% of everything I've earned while here in HK and to be honest, I've been more concentrated on drinking than saving these past 12 months.
The bill landed yesterday and was for a pittance, all my plans of putting it on my HK credit card and then fleeing the country was unnecessary (apparently even international banks can't black list you anywhere other than the nation you get the debt in - yes I did check). Obviously I’m delighted about this but it does leave me to reflect on one thing... I clearly earn jack sh*t!
Moving on from the excitement of personal finance its been fairly quiet here, I've had a few very enjoyable and rather drunken all day sessions at the Stoep (South African restaurant that spills onto Lower Cheung Sha Beach) and I've been up into Zhao Qing in mainland China for another factory visit. Exciting as that sounds it was actually quite a laugh as there isn’t a lot of English spoken in your average Chinese factory however I could of lived without the compulsory bruising massage (really, I was left black and blue).
Other than my pitiful salary it looks as if I've moved up in the world at work. I've been given one of only two corner window seats in the place. Unfortunately this isn’t quite as impressive as it sounds, the desk apparently has terrible Feng Shui so no one else wants it, fortunately as a gweilo and a cynic I'm immune so...
In other news beyond the regular flow of beer and kebabs I've had a fun couple of weeks dog sitting so I got to live in luxury out in the New Territories. I think Bev and Sean were relieved to see the mutt safe and well when they got home as just before they left my plant sitting skills were proven to be a little lacking.
And finally, we've had the fun of the moon cake festival once again. The public holiday was good, people in the office walking up to me and offering the most vial food in china while chewing their own, mouths wide open, inches from my face, less so… Suddenly I realise the manners mum struggled to hammer into me all those years ago warranted attention after all.
And that's me, I'm heading to Cebu in week or so to dive, golf and to get drunk with Darren in some suitable combination so but until then.....
Be good!
Jonathan
The bill landed yesterday and was for a pittance, all my plans of putting it on my HK credit card and then fleeing the country was unnecessary (apparently even international banks can't black list you anywhere other than the nation you get the debt in - yes I did check). Obviously I’m delighted about this but it does leave me to reflect on one thing... I clearly earn jack sh*t!
Moving on from the excitement of personal finance its been fairly quiet here, I've had a few very enjoyable and rather drunken all day sessions at the Stoep (South African restaurant that spills onto Lower Cheung Sha Beach) and I've been up into Zhao Qing in mainland China for another factory visit. Exciting as that sounds it was actually quite a laugh as there isn’t a lot of English spoken in your average Chinese factory however I could of lived without the compulsory bruising massage (really, I was left black and blue).
Other than my pitiful salary it looks as if I've moved up in the world at work. I've been given one of only two corner window seats in the place. Unfortunately this isn’t quite as impressive as it sounds, the desk apparently has terrible Feng Shui so no one else wants it, fortunately as a gweilo and a cynic I'm immune so...
In other news beyond the regular flow of beer and kebabs I've had a fun couple of weeks dog sitting so I got to live in luxury out in the New Territories. I think Bev and Sean were relieved to see the mutt safe and well when they got home as just before they left my plant sitting skills were proven to be a little lacking.
And finally, we've had the fun of the moon cake festival once again. The public holiday was good, people in the office walking up to me and offering the most vial food in china while chewing their own, mouths wide open, inches from my face, less so… Suddenly I realise the manners mum struggled to hammer into me all those years ago warranted attention after all.
And that's me, I'm heading to Cebu in week or so to dive, golf and to get drunk with Darren in some suitable combination so but until then.....
Be good!
Jonathan
posted by JP at 7:00 pm
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